Property Ladder Realty - Cairns Airbnb Management

The key to a good body corporate is to have a great Chairperson who makes sure all the jobs are done

Property Ladder Realty weigh’s in on the benefits of a great body corporate

I know most investors baulk when they see the body corporate levies, but I think that there are many that just don't understand what a body corporate levy is, what it pays for and why they are actually a great thing for investors that don't live where their investment is.

For an investor, it is difficult to understand what the body corporate is responsible for and what they aren't. As a rule, the body corporate is responsible for all the common area, the building and the insuring of the actual structure. The internals of the unit are the responsibility of the owner but even so this is a bit blurry. If you have a leaking tap, then the owner is responsible to get the washer changed. If there is a burst pipe and that pipe is in the slab, then it is the body corporate. If the kitchen needs replacing due to age, then it is the owner’s responsibility. If the kitchen is damaged due to an insurable event, then it is covered under the body corporate insurance cover.

Let's say the hot water system is in the kitchen cupboard and it bursts flooding the unit. The damage to the kitchen is covered by body corporate insurance. The owner will have to pay to get a new hot water system installed. If the carpets are damaged, these are classed as contents and the owner needs to claim this through their Landlords Insurance. If the walls are damaged, this is a body corporate claim and their policy will fix this - yes, I know very confusing.

“Fortunately many of you have a great Chairperson, who happens to be their property manager as well! I know I am in Gloat Mode.” Says Linda.

When you have a big complex, you really need to be proactive - if something is wrong it needs to be fixed. If you leave something broken or dumped next to the bin area it sends out a message that this is acceptable. This is a learning curve that I had to have - just because we pick up that piece of rubbish near the letter box and put it in the bins, doesn't mean everyone else will!

There are two parts to a Levy - you have the Administration Fund, which budgets for the things that will happen each year, and then you have the Sinking Fund. This is for future works to be completed such as new roof, gutters, fences and repainting.

The Queensland Government realised that if they didn't make people put money aside for future works, then they wouldn't. In the mid 1990's they brought in Sinking Fund and each building had to do a report and estimate what works would be required, what time frame they were needed to be done in and the cost. They then work backwards and come up with a figure so that there will be enough money in the bank when the work is required.